I don't really understand what LPTSTR MAKEINTRESOURCE(IDD_ActUbberPhestDialogBox) should do. After the variable type there should be the variable name, not some already existing variable. So that thing after LPTSTR will be a pointer to an LPTSTR. I don't think it's legal.

"The Internet treats censorship as damage and routes around it." - John Gilmore

i was mixing. i was trying to do everything on one line to shorten the dialog code. i wanted to see if i could get it working. thought that was what the error meant. will go back and do it correctly now.